Carroll, Bevell respond to criticism from Marshawn Lynch’s mom

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell were understanding and diplomatic in their response to criticism from Marshawn Lynch’s mom.
Elaine Thompson
The Associated Press

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, right, and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell were understanding and diplomatic in their response to criticism from Marshawn Lynch’s mom.
Elaine Thompson
The Associated Press

RENTON

It’s a safe bet — more like an absolute lock — Pete Carroll and Darrell Bevell didn’t get into coaching to discuss the social-media opinions of a player’s mother.

Yet that’s exactly what the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach and offensive coordinator were answering questions about on Wednesday, the team’s first full practice day for Sunday’s night early season marquee match against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.

Welcome to 2015.

Monday night, Delisa Lynch posted on Facebook her displeasure with how Seattle’s opener at St. Louis on Sunday ended. Her son, Seahawks star running back Marshawn Lynch, got stopped in the backfield by the swarming Rams on fourth and 1 in overtime to end Seattle’s 34-31 loss.

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Among other things, Lynch’s mom wrote Bevell was the worst play-caller ever and should be fired. She even capitalized “Fired” and included three exclamation points after it.

“Well, I don’t have to defend him … let’s start there,” Carroll said Wednesday. “I’m not defending him. He does a terrific job. The history shows all of that, all that we’ve done.

“That’s a mom looking after a kid. There ain’t nothing wrong with that. … There’s a lot of passion with our following and the ‘12s’ (fans) and our family members. I mean, think where media is today...

“I don’t blame her for having strong feelings. She’s a mom.”

After practice Bevell was more diplomatic.

He said he hasn’t talked to Lynch about the Facebook musings of his mother. Bevell didn’t sound like he felt he needed to, either.

“I’m glad we have passionate fans,” Bevell said.

“It comes with the territory. I played quarterback (he left the University of Wisconsin in 1996 as that school’s all-time passing leader), and you know that guy’s going to get more credit than he deserves, and more people are going to be on him when you don’t win. It’s the same as what I’m doing.

“I’m totally confident in what I’m doing. I’m totally confident that I’m getting our team in the best position to win. And I’m glad she’s passionate about us.”

CARROLL: CHANCELLOR “NEEDS TO COME BACK IN”

Carroll reiterated what has been clear for weeks: The Seahawks haven’t truly broken off negotiations with Kam Chancellor, as an ESPN reporter tweeted last week, because there is nothing to negotiate.

Carroll gets asked daily if anything is new on the strong safety’s holdout, which was in its 48th day on Wednesday. Yet the Seahawks are dug in after long ago telling Chancellor and his agent they weren’t going to give him added, guaranteed money when he still had three years remaining on his contract.

So Carroll was asked, what possibly could become new now from the team’s perspective?

“He needs to come back in,” the coach replied, flatly. “We need to get him in.”

Chancellor is about lose a second game check of $267,647 by missing Sunday’s game. That’s on top of potential maximum team fines that began with the start of training camp on July 31. Those are now approaching $2 million, should the Seahawks decide to collect them.

Before, it seemed they would waive those fines. But now, given how frustrated if not fed up most are with the impasse, who knows?

“I’m just disappointed — like I know he is and everybody is — that there hasn’t been a way to get him here,” Carroll said. “That’s all.”

Carroll said he likes how focused the players remain amid the ongoing absence of their team leader.

Dion Bailey, a 2014 practice-squad rookie whom the Rams targeted for their tying touchdown in the final minute of regulation last weekend, is ready to start at strong safety in his second career game Sunday night against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

“Can’t coach the guy that’s not here,” Carroll said of Chancellor. “Can’t do anything about it.”

EXTRA POINTS

The Seahawks listed LB Bobby Wagner and DE Michael Bennett as “limited” in practice Wednesday with new ankle injuries. … CB Tharold Simon remained out with his toe injury that caused him to miss last week’s game. … Lynch got his usual midweek rest. … The early weather forecast for Green Bay on Sunday evening: Clear with temperatures in the 60s going into the 50s.